Help an aussie out with choosing American Beers

[Thirsty Boy]

Hey BNers.

Finally someone is importing a few American craft brews into Australia. There aren't many of them and oh my but they are expensive. I would like the assistance of the BN army in targeting my drinking experience.

I'd just try em all (probably will eventually) but its not that simple, they all need to be mail ordered and as an example of the expense... the cheapest option is Sam Adams Boston lager at $5.20 for a 12oz bottle (before delivery charges) the stronger beers are running at $12.50 per 12oz-er.

I'll give you the list and you guys give me your opinions about the beers that I cant miss vs the ones that might not be quite worth $6 or 7 a pop.


> Anchor Bock -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Liberty Ale -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Porter -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Steam Beer -- Anchor Brewing Company (tried this one)
> Doggie Style Pale Ale -- Flying Dog
> Great Divide Hercules Double IPA -- Great Divide Brewing Company
> Great Divide Titan IPA -- Great Divide Brewing Company
> Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout -- Great Divide Brewing Company
> Left Hand Black Jack Porter -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Left Hand Imperial Stout -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Left Hand Juju Ginger Ale -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Left Hand Milk Stout -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Old Scratch Amber Lager -- Flying Dog
> Samuel Adams Boston Lager -- Boston Beer Co (tried this one)
> Snake Dog IPA -- Flying Dog

I know that everyone's taste is going to be different, just looking for some "dont miss" and "for god's sake avoid" style opinions.

Cheers

Thirsty

[chrishw]

I'm not big on flying dog- their beers seem "overdone" to me- but lots of people like them. I'd try everything on the list- but while many of these are "decent" beers none are a top 10. I would say that most of these are in the top 100 though- with the Great Divide being towards the top.

[Mylo]

Can't go wrong with my man, Fritz... (Anchor). Great Divide Yeti, too. Others are, like Chris said... OK.


Mylo

[BrewTa2]

Snake Dog IPA, Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout and Left Hand Milk Stout are three of my favorites. I've had the Titan and Hercules, but don't remember them.

[Dubba_Brew]

I am partial to the Flying Dog 'cause one of my friends works for those guys (inventory manager) and because the beer is good (I say good, not great). At least the ones that you have to choose from, but you better like cascade hops... they like to dry hop the hell out of everything with cascade. He introduced me to one of the guys from Left Hand at the GABF last year, so I would go with them as well. The guy was a bit of a douche, but the beer was alright.

I mean... looking at the list, I would probably drink them all. Like the other guys said, I don't think I would put any of those in my top 10, but I would order any one of them during a night out drinking.

[Motor]

> Anchor Bock -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Liberty Ale -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Porter -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Steam Beer -- Anchor Brewing Company (tried this one)

The Bock? .... sure, why not. The other three are landmarks. The Porter is the first porter brewed in the US since prohibition, or something like that. The Liberty is the first IPA, although today it isn't regarded as such. These two were first brewed about 30 years ago. Any clue what the US beer scene was like during the disco era?

And Steam......probably the beer I'd choose if I was stuck on a desert island. I don't think enough can be said about Fritz Maytag and what he did for beer in this country.

-Motor

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

Hey BNers.

Finally someone is importing a few American craft brews into Australia. There aren't many of them and oh my but they are expensive. I would like the assistance of the BN army in targeting my drinking experience.

I'd just try em all (probably will eventually) but its not that simple, they all need to be mail ordered and as an example of the expense... the cheapest option is Sam Adams Boston lager at $5.20 for a 12oz bottle (before delivery charges) the stronger beers are running at $12.50 per 12oz-er.

I'll give you the list and you guys give me your opinions about the beers that I cant miss vs the ones that might not be quite worth $6 or 7 a pop.


> Anchor Bock -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Liberty Ale -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Porter -- Anchor Brewing Company
> Anchor Steam Beer -- Anchor Brewing Company (tried this one)
> Doggie Style Pale Ale -- Flying Dog
> Great Divide Hercules Double IPA -- Great Divide Brewing Company
> Great Divide Titan IPA -- Great Divide Brewing Company
> Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout -- Great Divide Brewing Company
> Left Hand Black Jack Porter -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Left Hand Imperial Stout -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Left Hand Juju Ginger Ale -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Left Hand Milk Stout -- Left Hand Brewing Company
> Old Scratch Amber Lager -- Flying Dog
> Samuel Adams Boston Lager -- Boston Beer Co (tried this one)
> Snake Dog IPA -- Flying Dog

I know that everyone's taste is going to be different, just looking for some "dont miss" and "for god's sake avoid" style opinions.

Cheers

Thirsty

Anything by Anchor Steam, but put the bock at the bottom of the list. I was underwhelmed. Left hand Brewing's Milk Stout is niiiiice. ANd the Great Divide Double IPA? Don't bother. Buy it all and send it to me.

[dmtaylor]

My number one choice would be Anchor Liberty. Like the other guys said, can't go wrong with anything from Anchor.